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I have shot photography and videography for a high school for 16 years for the performing arts and 6 years for the athletic department. I finally decided to buy the canon 300 mm f2.8 prime but had to settle for a version 1 not a version 3 due to cost. I was impressed immediately with the image quality and focusing speed when I shot closeups of the schools drill team during a half time basketball game performance. The background blur and color rendering is great. Previously i used a 70-200mm and 120-300mm f2.8 zooms when shooting in the gym and with night time football games. This 300mm prime has is and small enough to handhold. Glad that I got it.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is without question the most amazing camera lens I have ever used. While I had read numerous other reviews about the sharpness associated with this lens, you simply can't understand it without seeing it first hand. I have a number of other "L" lenses for comparison, including a most amazing 70-200mm 2.8L IS. While they all produce excellent images, none are quite in the same league with this one. A non-scientific observation is that photos taken with this lens are at least as sharp when viewed at 200% as compared with those taken with my other "L" lenses and viewed at 100%. This is not to say with certainty that the 300mm captures twice the detail, but there is a clear difference. This lens works fabulous as a 420mm f/4.0 when combined with the Extender 1.4X II. Although I'm sure it is there, I was unable to detect any noticeable loss of image quality or lens performance when using this combination. When combined with the Extender 2X II, the lens works well as a 600mm f/5.6. Again it is difficult to see much, if any, loss of image quality but lens AF performance does slow when using this combination. I'd also add that this is about the largest lens anyone would want to hand-hold. I have seen others hold larger but they would require far more strength. My wife and I are both able to use this lens without a tripod or mono-pod. The Image Stabilization is superb and we have had little trouble with shots as slow as 1/125 on a 40D and even slower on a full frame 5D.Read full review
Love: - Sharp wide open and that is what counts (sharpens nicely with software). - Sharpens more when stopped down an f-stop (outstanding resolution). - Fast auto focus (fastest I have seen). - Solid build (switches and rings are precise without play). - Replaceable flat front glass which protects the adjacent Ultra-Low Dispersion element. - Autofocus stop buttons. - Dust and water resistant. - Programmable preset focusing. - Removable tripod collar. Like: - Optical image stabilization (wish it had the newer 3-4 stop version). - Hard case (good for storing lens in your house, vehicle or airplane). - A good way to meet nice strangers (especially the ladies) who approach and raises questions about the lens. Dislike: - E-145 lens cap (will dislodge if lens is carried in the field with the lens hood reversed). - Paint will come off on the barrel at the ET-120 lens hood contact point. - Need to buy Canon touch up paint to repaint lens hood contact point on barrel. - Not a dislike but the strap's buckle can scratch the prism housing (position the buckle close to the lens away from the camera). - Weight (not really hand holdable and needs at least a monopod). - Cost (but it's faster and sharper than the Canon 300/4 versions).Read full review
I've been a photographer for about 14 years now, I've heard people talk about it, I've rented it... and all I can say is that it's if not the best, one of the best lenses out there. The focal speed on this thing is lightning, even when paired with the 1.4x II extender, you loose an F-stop, but it's doesn't degrade your photos at all, still sharp and fast. If you pair it up with the 2xII extender, you get a whooping 600mm (on a full frame camera like the 5d mark II) at 5.6, and it's still sharp (good when you've got a lot of sun though). With the IS, I can say that you can actually hold it for periods up to a few minutes without a tripod, after 20 minutes without a mono or tripod, it starts to get heavy. Obviously everyone has their own tolerances. It took me a few years to save up to buy this baby cash, it's not cheap, but I guarantee you 2 things, 1) superb imagery, 2) just about anywhere you go, at least one person will point and say something about the lens... it's definite presence when you show up. I showed up at a museum in Florida with a rental of this lens, there were many people photographing, and it was permitted to photograph for non-commercial purposes, the guards asked me to stop photographing because they didn't believe I was there as a tourist...lol I'd say the only down side to this lens is I didn't buy it sooner, this is a must for people that want results! James DonohueRead full review
I had read about the sharpness of pictures with this lens, as well as the overall quality and did lots of studying before making such a large lens purchase. I can tell you, it is well worth it. I primarily photograph wildlife, and it is unsurpassed in my estimation. It is light enough to use without a tripod, and I've gotten some great pics of birds flying with it, as well as quick point & shoot opportunities. I've used a 400mm prime lens before, which is also very good, but too heavy for me to handhold and be steady. I can carry the 300mm attached to my 7D almost all day on a strap over my shoulder. It did make me go back through a bunch of older pictures and discard because they no longer seem to be as high quality. Would definitely buy it again.
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